Clutch disk



May l2, 1942. E, E, WEMP i 2,283,113

CLUTCH DISK Original Filed Jan. '7, 1939 4 INVENTOIL 11 Priest I'. `kfw/71p.

Patented May i2, i942 y y UNITED STATES PATENT J OFFICE CLUTCH DISK Ernest E'. Wemp, Detroit, Mich.

Original application January 7, 1939, Serial No.

249,697. Divided and this application May 10, 1941, Serial No. 392,849

Claims. (Cl. 192-107) This invention relates to a clutch disk of the cushion type adapted to be packed between clutch driving members. In an automotive vehicle, for example, a disk of this type is ordinarily attached to a driven shaft and the disk is engaged withv pressure between the engine flywheel and an axially shiftable pressure plate mounted to rotate with the ywheel, the flywheel and pressure plate constituting driving members. This application is a division of application Serial No. 249,697, filed January '7, 1939.

In accordance with this invention structurally separate spring metal cushion members are mounted upon a body which may be in the form of a disk, and the cushion members serve to hold oppositely positioned facing rings yieldably separated. A feature of the invention is an arrangement wherein an increased number of points of yieldable support is afforded for each facing; that is to say the number is increased over cushion arrangements in the prior art which will be hereinafter referred to, with the result that the greater number of points of support, or rather locations of support, decreases the unit pressure at localizedpoints on the facing during clutchf engagement, and this decreases the tendency for the `clutch to chatter or grab.

These and other features and objects will be better understood as the detailed description progresses.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a clutch disk constructed in accordance with the invention with part of one facing cut away to show the underlying cushion member.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified arrangement.

Fig. 5 is a partial elevational viewof a modifled form.

In the structure illustrated the driven member has a hub l arranged to be splned to -a driven shaft. The hub has a flange 2 on one side of which is a washer member 3 and on the other side of which is a disk 4. The flange, washer and disk have aligned apertures in`which ycoil springs 5 are located. This forms a cushioning or vibration dampening drive between the disk and the hub. The disk and washer are secured together to move in unison through the means of may be disposed between the flange and the washer and the disk. The structure thus far described may correspond substantially to my Patent No. 2,042,570 and need not be further described. Such a Vibration dampener construction may or may not be used with the cushion structure about to be described.

As will be noted, the disk 4 terminates radially inwardly of two friction facing rings I0 and Il, while structurally separate cushion members I2 are disposed between the facings. These cushion members are preferably of relatively light gauge spring steel stock, that is, relatively light as compared to the disk.

Each cushion member has two spoke-like elements I 5a which are connected tothe disk by rivets I4, anda circumferentially enlarged head portion preformed so as to normally and yieldably hold the facings axially separated. The head of each .cushion member is shaped substantially as illustrated in Fig. 3. The central portion I6 is disposed angularly relative to the disk and the facings, or relative to the plane of rotation. The head is shaped to provide a land ll on one side of the central portion and a land I8 on the other side thereof, these lands constituting high spots for -contact with the facings and for connection to the facings Iby rivets 20 or the like. Each facing may be provided with clearance -apertures 2| for clearing the heads of the rivets for attaching the opposite facing. The

cushion members, as shownV in Fig. 3, have portions 22 and 23 which extend angularly across the space between' the facings, with the extreme end portions preferably flattened or fashioned as shown at 24 and 25 for contact as with one of the facings. Since the lands are in different planes, the spokes are slightly formed or twisted to bring their inner ends into a `common plane for attachment'to the kdisk as shown in Fig. 2. The form shown in Fig. 5 is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 except that the neck or spoke portions are not separate but are constituted by separate arms or a U-formation. The `.bight portion of the ll is illustrated at |327, while neck or spoke portions Ywhich are integral therewith are illustrated at 15b.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 4, the facings `and rivets are the same and bear the same reference characters. However, the portions 22a and 23a do not extend entirely across the space rivets 6, the rivets passing through clearance slots between the facings, thus leaving the extreme endV portionsr24a and 25a normally free Aof one facing.

The function and operation of the disk is substantially as follows: In a normal unrestrained held yieldably spaced substantially as shown in Fig. 3. When the facings are packed between driving members, the cushion members have av collapsing action and the facings are yieldably -pressed toward each other. In this action the central portion I6 and the spokes I5a are twisted torsionally as the forces tend to bring the angular portion I6 into a plane paralleling the facings. At the same time a bending action occurs; in this .connection note that the facing I is supported by the land I8 which in turn gets its yielding support from the end 25 and the land I1. This structure resists -collapsing action and the collapsing forces tend to -bend and straighten out the formation. Now note that the facing II is similarly supported at land II.

This cushion structure is advantageous in that l when the cushion members are located in an annular array on a given radius, an increased number of. points or locations of support for the facings are provided over prior art structures. Each cushion member in the structure shown provides arch structures for supporting each facing, one extending from the end 25 to the land I'I, and the other extending from the end 24 to the land-I8. Thus the intermediate portion I6 is a common element which is advantageous. For example, in one structure which has been manufactured, the cushion member hada circumferential dimension of about 2 inches and the distance between thepoints of support was about 11/2 inches. As a matter of comparison this maybe considered with the structure shown in my Patent No. 2,117,527 of May 17, 1938. A manufactured structure in accordance with this patent had a cushion member of about 3ft; of an inch in circumferential dimension, with the distance between the points of support of about 11/2 inches, and a center relatively inert land of fg of an inch for attachment purposes.

A large number of cushion members of the type shown herein may be disposed in an annular array-on a given radius, and this provides a large number of points or locations of support for the facings. These points or locations yieldably resist compression action during clutch engagement, and as a result-there is an increased area on the facings which resists compression and a correspondingly decreased unit pressure. These things contribute to a smoothly acting clutch and decrease a tendencyfor the clutch to chatter or grab during clutch engagement.

Moreover,in a clutch with a given radius, the

distance between points of support may be off adequate length without decreasing the number of supporting points. It will be understood, of course, that where the distance between supporting points is short theresistance to .flexure is increased. As a result the stock of which the cushion member is made need not be so thin, and accordingly, the desired type and gauge of stock may be employed.

The same thing is true of Vthe form shown in Fig. 4, except that some of the metal does not begin to function until the collapsing action brings the ends 24a and 25a into contact with the respective facings.

I claim:

l. A clutch driven member.- comprising two annular friction facing members adapted to be packed between clutch driving members, a bodyA member with its outer peripheral edge disposed within the inner peripheral `edges of the facing members, a plurality of metal cushion members assaut arranged in an annular array, each cushion member having an enlarged outer portion lying between the facings, the outer portion being preformed to yieldably space the facings and having an -intermediate angularly disposed part extending diagonally across the space between the facings, lands for the facings on opposite sides of the intermediate part and end portions extending in a direction diagonally of the space between the facings, inwardly disposed projecttions extending substantially from the said lands and secured to the body member, and means securing the respective facings to the lands.

2. A clutch driven member comprising, two annular friction facing members adapted to be packed between clutch driving members, a body member with its outer peripheral edge disposed within the inner peripheral edges of the facing members, a plurality of metal cushion members arranged in an annular array, each cushion member having a circumferentially enlarged outer portion lying between the facings, the outer portion being preformed to provide axially spaced lands for engaging opposite facing members and which are connectedby a yieldable intermediate portion to yieldably space the facings axially, spoke-like elements extending inwardly substantially from the lands and joining to the body member, and means for securing the facings to the respective lands.

3. A clutch driven member comprising, two annular friction facing members adapted to be packed between clutch driving members, a body member with its outer peripheral edge spaced inwardly from the inward peripheral edges of the facings, a plurality of metal cushion members arranged in an annular array, each cushion member having a circumferentially enlarged outer portion lying between the facings, the outer portion being preformed to provide axially and circumferentially spaced lands `for engaging opposite facing members and which are oonnected by a yieldable intermediate portion to yieldably space the facings axially, a spoke-like element extending inwardly substantially from each land across the space and joining to the body member, and means for securing the facings to the respective lands.

4. A clutch driven member comprising two annular friction facing members adapted to be packed between clutch driving members, a body member vwith its outer peripheral edge spaced inwardly from the inner peripheral edges of the facing members, cushion members arranged in an annular array, eachcushion member having an outer portion lying between the facings; each outer portion being preformed to provide a yieldable central portion, a land on each side of the central portion, said -lands being spaced axially and adapted to engage opposite facing members, and edge portions projecting from the lands and disposed diagonally in a direction across the space between the facing members; means for securing the facing members to the respective lands, and two spoke-like elements for each cushion member extending inwardly from the lands'and having their inner portions joined to the body member.

5. A clutch member comprising a body member, a pair of annular friction facings disposed radially outwardly of the body member, a plurality of cushion members disposed in an annular array and having outer portions lying between and normally holding the facings yieldingly spaced apart axially, the outer portion of each cushion it extends, whereby each facing is supported by a land and one end portion of a cushion member, means for securing the facings to the lands, and each cushion member having two yieldable spoke-like elements extending inwardly sub- Y stantially from the lands and connecting to the body member.

l ERNESTE. WEMP. 

